Three Minor Monks Missing from Shimla’s Jonang Monastery, Police Launch Search Operation
Minor monks missing
Shimla, May 13:
Three underage monks have gone missing from the Jonang Buddhist Monastery located in Sanjauli, a suburb of Shimla. The incident occurred on May 11, when the three young monks left the monastery without informing anyone and have not returned since.
Monastery authorities searched across Shimla throughout the day, but after failing to trace the boys, they lodged a missing persons complaint at the Dhalli Police Station on May 12. Following the complaint, police registered a case under Section 137(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and have launched a search operation to trace the missing children.
The complaint was filed by Senge Dorje, the manager of the Jonang Monastery. He stated that he has been working at the monastery for the past year and that around 150 children currently reside there to study and practice Buddhism. The missing boys include two children aged 11 and 12 from West Bengal, and a 13-year-old from Arunachal Pradesh.
Dhalli police have initiated a search in surrounding areas and are coordinating closely with the monastery to ensure the safe return of the minors. Both the police and monastery officials remain hopeful of locating the children soon.
Notably, this is not the first such incident. Exactly one month ago, two minor monks had also gone missing from the same monastery. They had reportedly wandered off without informing anyone and lost their way. Fortunately, the police located them within 12 hours near Dhalli Chowk and brought them back safely.
The Jonang Tekan Phuntsok Choeling Monastery is the only monastery in India dedicated to the Jonang tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. It was founded in 1963 by Amdo Lama Jinpa and was initially known as “Sangye Choeling.” Perched atop a hill in Sanjauli, the monastery is home to over 100 monks and serves as a center for religious study and spiritual training for children.
One of the monastery’s unique traditions involves monks placing colorful prayer flags across the hillside—symbols of peace and prosperity in Tibetan culture. The three missing children were undergoing training as part of this traditional spiritual practice.
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